Question : MEASLES DEATHS

(a) whether as per a report published in an International Medical Journal about 47 per cent of the global measles deaths occur in India;

(b) if so, the coverage of measles vaccination in the country at present;

(c) whether the Government proposes to launch a special drive to cover whole country with measles vaccine especially in rural areas;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken or being taken by Government to reduce the measles death in the country and also to focus those areas which are not covered by measles vaccination?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)

(a): As per an article published in Lancet on 24th April 2012, India’s share to global measles mortality was 47% in 2010.

(b): The reported coverage of measles vaccination in the country during 2011-12 was 86.3% as per Health Information Management System of Ministry of Health.

(c) to (e): Government of India had decided to introduce second dose of measles in Routine Immunization programme from 2010-11. In 14 States where measles immunization coverage was less than 80 percent, second dose of measles was to be introduced as measles catch-up campaign (MCUP) covering all the children in the age group 9 months to 10 years followed by integration into Routine Immunization. In other States where measles converge was more than 80 percent, second dose was introduced as part of Routine Immunization. The measles catch up campaign has a target to cover 361 districts in 14 States and 13.1 crore children in a phased manner. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura. As on date, Measles catch up campaign has been carried out in 197 districts in 14 states immunizing 4.77 crore children.